Overview of Under Water Pile Cutting by Abrasive Water Jet
Our experience in abrasive water jet cutting has enabled us to develop our “Jetnife” system so that it will operate underwater. Our remote control internal pile cutting system enables us to cut off piles below ground, or sea bed to a depth of 50 metres. The system uses a portable internal or external cutting rig suitable for deployment on various marine vessels, such as; pontoons, multicats or jack-up barges. The primary use is for decommissioning of tubular steel, sheet or concrete filled piles.
Our system avoids the need for costly underwater excavations around the circumference of the pile. We have also successfully cut off steel reinforced concrete piles up to 2m in diameter. This technology is safe and offers substantial cost savings over alternative methods such as diver-operated processes.
No heat to the cutting zone means that the structural integrity of the substrate is preserved.
Precision cuts can be made which remove just a few millimetres of metal. This means that in many cases the cut section can be re-used.
Scrap cuts use the same process and are made even more quickly than precision cuts. Piles or other plant can be safely and quickly decommissioned.
Once set up is complete a trained operator controls the direction and speed of the carriage/water jet remotely.
The garnet cutting media used in the operation is an inert mineral with little or no environmental consequences in marine or fresh water surroundings.
Internal to external cutting of circular steel piles
Reinforced concrete piles
Sheet pile cutting on jetties and marine terminals
North Sea: Meteorological mast; Removal of steel monopole
Ellesmere Port: Wind turbine; Removal of steel monopole
Tilbury Docks: Marine jetty; Removal of hollow tubular steel piles
Riverbed: Ornamental glass house; Cutting of Larssen sheet piles (300mm below river bed)
River Tyne: Tunnel; Removal of large diameter temporary circular steel piles
Southampton Docks: Marine jetty; Removal of circular steel piles
Canary Wharf: West India Dock; Removal of temporary piles supporting a building
Our portable diesel powered jetting units require 10-20,000 litres of potable water per shift.
The diesel engine is fitted with a certified Chalwyn Valve engine over speed protection and exhaust Spark Arrestor.
Ultra high pressures hoses link the pump to the abrasive water jet cutting nozzle.
The nozzle is mounted on a powered carriage, designed for either internal or external cutting. This tooling is clamped around or inside the pile.
For internal tubular pile cutting a dredge grab/pump is deployed to remove any debris from within. A proving rig is then lowered 1-2m below the cut line to ensure unobstructed access for the cutting rig.
RGL has a selection of tooling available. Where required, we design and manufacture bespoke tooling for a specific applications.
Once set up is complete a remote console is used to control the cutting process.
Geological surveys and drawings of the structure are required to ensure that the correct equipment and cutting rigs are deployed.
For offshore projects clients need to provide a suitable marine vessel such as; jack-up barges/multicats with cranes.
The vessel also needs to be able to safely lift and support the pile during cutting and subsequently lift and transport the pile onshore.
For offshore projects potable water has to be supplied and stored in storage tanks aboard the marine support vessel.
“Jetnife” is an efficient and safer alternative to using divers with Broco-type hot cutting equipment.
Diamond sawing can be complicated to set up and is not suitable for cutting from inside out for tubular structures.
Our experience in abrasive water jet cutting has enabled us to develop our “Jetnife” system so that it will operate underwater. Our remote control internal pile cutting system enables us to cut off piles below ground, or sea bed to a depth of 50 metres. The system uses a portable internal or external cutting rig suitable for deployment on various marine vessels, such as; pontoons, multicats or jack-up barges. The primary use is for decommissioning of tubular steel, sheet or concrete filled piles.
